Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-07-08
The Feeling i'm st. Louis.

ANOTHER INVITATION TO THE PRESIDENT.
Dispatches from st. Louis state that the with.
drawal by the President of his acceptance Of the
invitation to visit that city during the Grand
Army encampment has caused general chagrin
and considerable feeling against the Grand
Army. 1t was proposed by many Of the citizens
that the Grand Army should be requested TO find
another place OF meeting. More sober sentiment
dictated that the best should be made OF q bad
situation. The citizens committee held meeting
In Mayor Francis Office yesterday afternoon, and
committee was appointed to draw up resolutions
Louis during the fair week.
THE ORIGINAL LETTER OF INVITATION,
which was signed by Mayor Francis, Frank
Gaiennie, president Of the Merchants Exchange,
and John w. Noble, commander OF Frank p.
Blair Post, No i, G. A. R., says: "The undersigned
are committee appointed by the general COM
ing to yourself and your esteemed wife cordial
and urgent invitation to be present on the occa-
sion and to accept the hospitalities OF the COM
made by @ our citizens as wei wei as by the 100000
veterans then to be cOngregated here, to render
your visit pleasant and your stay interesting.
Allow uS to suggest that no compliment
more fitting could be bestowed upon the valiant
defenders OF q common country by the Chief Ex-
more highly appreciated than that conferred by
his presence at such time and place"
THE PRESIDENT WROTE A LETTER
to this committee also on July 4, which was
declination similar to that sent to the citizens
committee, but much more brief. In 1t he says:
''The statement contained in your letter that
the organization was never in so flour1Shtng con-
dition as now, nor its membership so large; that
effort is being spared by the citizens OF St Louis
to insure O welcome OF unusual warmth at this
the first encampment OF that body ever held In q
Southern State, and your suggestion that no com
pliment more fitting could be bestowed upon the
valiant defenders OF a common country by the
Chief Executive Of restored Union, and nOnt
would be more highly appreciated than that GCn
ferred by his presence at such time and place,
enlisted my feeling and interest. More recently
indications have been disclosed that. however
correctly you expressed the prevailing sen
t1ment In the Grand Army, there arr
members and some posts OF that body
entertaining different feelings in respect to my
attendance, and that my acceptance OF your
invil alton would lead to discord in the OrganiZa
tiOn, as well as an interruption OF c0rdiality a,
the coming encampment. without entering into
a discussion OF these opinions and unmoved by
any feeling, although deeply regret the condi
tion, can but regard 1t my duty to refrain from
contributing by my action to so undesirable 9
result. Nothing can be OF greater importance In
connection with the encampment than the free
and unrestra1ned manifestation by its participants
Of that patriotic fraternity OF feeling suggested
by the selection OF the place OF holding 1t, and
which Is at once the proof OF the complete success
OF their arms and the highest glory OF our veteran
soldiers. am constrained, therefore, to withhold
my purposed acceptance OF your invitation"